Prepare the Crust and Topping:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mix the Crust and Topping: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in the flour and salt until a crumbly dough forms.
3. Form the Base: Press two-thirds of the crumbly mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust.

Add the Cherry Filling:

4. Spread the Filling: In a small bowl, stir the almond extract into the cherry pie filling. Spread the filling evenly over the crust layer.

Add the Topping and Bake:

5. Add Crumble Topping: Sprinkle the remaining crust mixture evenly over the cherry filling to create a crumbly topping.
6. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Cool and Serve:

7. Cool Completely: Let the bars cool in the pan before slicing into squares or rectangles.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the bars as they are, or dust with powdered sugar for an extra festive touch.